Wednesday, 3 May 2023

Ministers statements: early childhood education

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep, Minister for Environment) (12:35): I would like to rise today and inform the house that free kinder enrolment for 2024 is now opening at services in every corner of our state. On Monday I had the pleasure of joining AFL great and community leader Bachar Houli at Altona North Children’s Service, the very service that Bachar went to himself as a little kindergarten kid, to talk about the importance of families from all cultures and backgrounds enrolling their children in three- and four-year-old kinder. Along with thousands of other Victorians, Bachar is enrolling his son Mohamed in next year’s three-year-old kinder program so that he can enjoy the proven benefits of two years of early education.

At kindergarten, children learn through play-based learning. Play encourages children to use their imagination and make discoveries while learning to listen, share and take turns. Children also learn about numbers, words and language and develop key social and emotional skills that set them up for a lifetime of success. And now with free kinder available right across the state families will save up to $2500 per child each year. This means even more children will be able to access the lifelong benefits of early education without putting pressure on the household budget and that more parents and carers, particularly women, can return to work if they choose. This year in Victoria free kinder will benefit up to 140,000 three- and four-year-old children. Only the Andrews Labor government is making sure that every Victorian child can get the very best start in life no matter where they live, and I encourage all families to get in touch with their local services and enrol their children in kinder in 2024.